Control for combined ailerons and flaps



sept. 12, 195o c. R. BILLINGToN 2,522,159

CONTROL FOR COMBINED AILERONS AND FLAPS Filed Oct. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www/gy MZEZWS Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED vS'IA'IES PATENT OFFICE coNTRoLron COMBINED AiLERoNs 4am) FLArs Charles R; Billington, Memphis, Tenn.

Application Octoberv 14, 1946, Serial No.` 703,162

4 Claims. (Cl. 24A-83) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements 4in airplane controls, more specifically, controls for ailerons and wing flaps.

` In conventional practice, it is customary to pro vide an aileron on each wing adjacent the wing tip, and a wing flap on each. wing adjacent the fuselage. The ailerons are coordinated for movement in relatively opposite directions, while the wing flaps are raised or lowered simultaneously.

It is the principalobject of the invention to combine the pair of ailerons and the pair .of Wing flaps'into one pair of movable surfaces and to provide means whereby the latter may be effectively controlled so as to function as both the ailerons and flaps. In other Words, the primary purpose of the invention is to provide a control whereby the pair of movable surfacesmay be moved simultaneously in one direction to function as flaps, and in addition, whereby the same may be moved in relatively opposite directions, to function as ailerons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control which is simple in construction, dependable in operation, and which may be readily installed in position on the aircraft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control wherein the operation of the movable surfaces as ailerons is independent with respect. to their operation as wing flaps, and in the event that the components of the control governing the wing flap function have become damaged or otherwise inoperative, the function of the control governing ailerons will not be affected.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a control which will not easily becomedamaged and which will readily `lend itself to economical manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to eliminate the conventional wing flaps by combining the function thereof with that ofthe ailerons, as has been already explained.

With the above more Yimportant Aobjects in view, and such other objects, as may. becomeapparent as this specification proceeds, the `invention consists essentially of the arrangement-and construction of yparts as illustrated` inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is .a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, .taken substantially in the plane of the line :f2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View ofrav modified ernbodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 isfa side elevation of the device shown in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an end view, taken Vin the direction of the arrow 5 in Figure 3.

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in the speciiication and t`nroughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly7 to Figures l and 2, the invention consists of a control designated generally by the reference character lll. The same embodies in its construction a stationary mounting plate II, such as may be suitably secured to the floor, or the like, lof the aircraft fuselage.

The plate II is providedwith an upright pivot I3, screw-threaded at the free end thereof as at I4, and an arm I5 is rotatablymounted medially of its length on .this pivot, as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying. drawings.

The arm l5 is coniigurated substantially as shown, being provided adjacent its ends with a pair of apertures It in which al pair of control cables Il maybe suitably anchored. The cables Il pass around convenient guide pulleys it and the remaining ends thereof are connected to the conventional aileron'actuating mechanism of the aircraft,lsuch as for example, the joy-stick. l

A portion of the arm l5 is of relatively greater thickness-'and provides a hydraulic cylinder I9 which will be hereinafter more fully described. A relatively thick portion 2i) provided on the arm Ifadjacent the cylinder I9 merely constitutes a bearing vboss which facilitates convenient mounting of the arm-as a whole upon the pivot i3.

-A lpair of crossed levers 2l, 22 are rotatably mounted at the intersection thereof on the pivot I3, betweeny the arni I5 and the mounting plate I I. These levers are provided adjacent their ends with suitable apertures 23 and pairs of control cables 24, 25 are anchored in these apertures. The free ends of these cables are; in turn, connected to the actuating cranks 260i the movable surfaces or sectionsz'l, 28 provided on the wings 29. As will be hereinafter more fully explained, the sections 2l, 2B function as both the ailerons and wing naps, so that for purposes of identiflcation, each of the sections 2l and 28 will be hereinafter designated as a combined aileron and flap.

It will be noted that the sections. 2l,v 28 are hingedlylattached to the wings 29 in any suitable manner, as indicated in the accompanying drawings by thehinge pins 30. AIt should 4be also observed that the pair of cables 24 connect the lever 2| to the section 21, while the cables 25 connect the lever 22 to the section 28.

The aforementioned hydraulic cylinder I9 is double acting and is equipped adjacent the relatively opposite ends thereof with the fluid connections 3|, so that hydraulic pressure may be exerted upon either side of a piston 32 with which the piston is provided. The piston 32 is secured to a slidable piston rod or plunger 33 which protrudes outwardly from the cylinder I9 and Icarries at its free extremity an attachment bracket 34.

A pair of equalizing links 35 are pivoted to the Abracket 34 by means of a suitable bolt or screw 35, the latter extending through one end portion of each link, as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying drawings. The remaining ends of the links 35 are pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the levers 2l, 22, that is, each link is connected to one of the levers.

The connection of the links to the levers is accomplished in any suitable manner and it should be added that a nut 36 and a washer 31 are provided on the screw-threaded portion I4 of the pivot I3, whereby the arm I5 and the levers 2l, 22 are effectively retained upon the pivot.

When the invention is placed in use, it should be first assumed that the piston 32 remains stationary in the cylinder I9 and that the joy-stick (not shown) is manipulated so as to move the cables I1 in the direction of the arrows 38. In such instance, the arm I5, the levers 2l, 22 and the links 35 will, as a whole, rotate upon the pvot I3 in the direction of the arrow 39 and the cables 24, 25 will be pulled in the direction of the arrows 40. Accordingly, the wing section 21 will be lowered as indicated at 4I, while the wing section 28 will be raised as shown at 42.

It will thus be observed that the actuation of the joy-stick as described will move the sections 21, 28 in relatively opposite directions and the same will function in the conventional manner as ailerons.

It should be understood that the sections 21, 28 and the wings 29 are illustrated diagrammatically and that, in actual practice, the longitudinal axes of the sections 21, 28 will be aligned.

The actuation of the hydraulic cylinder I9 by direction of the arrow 43, the equalizing links 35 will move the levers 2l and 22 in the direction of the arrows 44 and 45 respectively.

This action, in turn, will be transmitted through the medium of the cables 24, 25 to the respective sections 21, 28, both the latter being moved in the direction of the arrows 46. It will be observed that in this manner, the actuation of the cylinder I9 will move the sections 21, 28 simultaneously in the same direction and the sections will thus perform the function of conventional wing flaps.

The sections 21, 28 will thus perform the function of both the conventional ailerons and wing flaps, depending upon whether they are actuated by the joy-stick or by the hydraulic cylinder I9. It should be particularly noted that the two forms of actuation are relatively independent and that, if desired, they may occur Simultaneously.

In the'event that the sections are not required to function as flaps or if, for any reason, the cylinder I9 has become inoperative, the relative position of the levers 2|, 22 with respect to one another and with respect to the arm I5 may be locked in a predetermined position. This is accomplished 'by the provision of a locking pin 41 which may be inserted into suitable apertures provided in the arm I5 and in the plunger 33, thereby preventing relative movement of the plunger with respect to the arm.

Referring now to the accompanying Figures 3, 4 and 5, the same illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention, namely, a control designated by the general reference character 5U which is of a relatively simpler construction and is Iparticularly adapted for use in association with small aircraft.

The control 5U embodies in its construction a mounting plate 5I adapted for securing to the aircraft fuselage 52, the plate 5I being provided with an upstanding pivot 53 on which are rotatably mounted a pair of crossed levers 54, 55 and an arm 56.

The latter corresponds to the aforementioned arm I5, but it will be noted that the pivot 53 extends adjacent one end of the arm 58, rather than medially of its length as in the previous instance. The arm 56 is congurated substantially as shown and the free end thereof provides anchorage as at 51 for a pair of opposing cables 58. These cables pass around suitable guide pulleys 59 and are connected to the aileron actuating mechanism of the aircraft, such as the conventional joy-stick.

The lever 54 is connected through the medium of the cables 69, '6I to one combined aileron and flap, while the lever 55 is similarly connected .by the cables 62, 63 to the other combined aileron and flap. These are not shown in the accompanying drawings but are similar to the aforementioned sections 21, 28 in Figure 1.

The boss 64 of the arm 56 provides a bearing 65 for a shoulder 66 0f a rotatable screw 61, the latter being actuated through the medium of a connecting shaft 68 by a suitable crank (not shown) provided in the aircraft cockpit.

The screw 81 carries a nut-like traveler 69 equipped with laterally projecting wings 1U, and a pair of equalizing links 1I are pivotally connected to these wings, as at 12. The remaining ends of the links 1I are, in turn, pivotally attached to the adjacent ends of the levers 54, 55, as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying drawings.

When this embodiment of the invention is placed in use, actuation of the joy-stick will move the cables 58 for example, in the direction of the arrows 13 and the control, as a whole, will rotate upon the pivot 53 in the direction of the arrows 14. This movement will be transmitted through the medium of the cables 60, 6I, 62 and 63 to the combined ailerons and flaps, so that the same will be moved in relatively opposite directions, as indicated at 15. In this manner, the conventional aileron action will be accomplished.

Rotation of the shaft 68 will, in turn, move the traveler B9, for example, in the direction of the arrow 16, and as a result, the levers 54, 55 will be moved in the direction of the arrows 11, 18 respectively. Accordingly, it Will be seen that the combined ailerons and flaps will beY moved simultaneously in the same direction, as indicated at 19. The action of the conventional wing flaps will thus be facilitated.

It will be also noted that since the screw 61 and the traveler 69 are self-locking, the provision of the aforementioned locking pin 41 in this embodiment is unnecessary.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the-spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a control for ailerons, a stationary pivot, an arm having a bore rotatably mounted on said pivot, a pair of levers crossed intermediate their ends and rotatably mounted at the intersection thereof on said pivot, each of said levers being operatively connected to an aileron, a longitudinally slidable plunger provided in said bore, a pair of equalizing links each pivoted at one end thereof to said plunger, the opposite end of each link being pivoted to the adjacent end of one of said levers, and means secured to said arm for conducting uid to said bore for sliding said plunger.

2. The combination of claim 1, and a locking pin carried by said arm and removably connected with said plunger to hold said plunger in a predetermined position.

3. A control apparatus for ailerons which have operating mechanisms secured thereto comprising a fixed pivot pin, a pair of levers crossed intermediate their ends and having said pivot pin passed through the intersection thereof, each of said levers having means at the ends thereof connecting them individually with the operating mechanism for the ailerons, a pair of equalizing itman links pivotally connected together at one pair of ends, the opposite ends being secured to said levers, an arm pivoted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin, a rst control cable secured to one end of said arm and a second control cable secured to the opposite end of said arm, a plunger, a cylinder in said arm having said plunger reciprocatively disposed therein, the plunger including a piston which is disposed in said cylinder and including a piston rod, said piston rod being connected with said pair of links at the junction thereof so that when said plunger is urged Within said cylinder in a direction away from said pivot pin, said links are pulled toward each other thereby operating said levers.

4. The combination of claim 3, and a locking pin carried by said arm and removably connected with said piston rod to hold said piston rod in a predetermined position.

- CHARLES R. BILLINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

